Political Skinny: Spencer Collier GOP's likeliest House member to return, says poll

View full size(Alabama House of Representatives)An Alabama Farmers Federation poll says state Rep. Spencer Collier, R-Irvington, has the safest GOP seat in the Alabama House of Representatives.Who's the safest bet for re-election among the 140 members of the Alabama Legislature?

The answer might be state Rep. Spencer Collier, R-Irvington, according to a new survey by the Alabama Farmers Federation. Collier, a former state trooper who is seeking a third term this year, received the strongest re-elect numbers of any Republican in the state House, Alfa said.

The statewide survey found that the average House incumbent was supported by 40.7 percent of their voters, and opposed by 40.4 percent for a +0.3 percent margin.

But Collier was one of only four House incumbents with a +25.0 percent or better, with 53.9 percent of voters in his district supporting him and only 28.5 percent opposed for a +28.5 percent margin.

The bipartisan coalition, led by Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, will make the case for Boeing and its "all-American refueling tanker" during a news conference scheduled at the National Press Club. Boeing is battling a Mobile-based team led by Northrop Grumman Corp. for the potential $40 billion deal.

The coalition said in a news release that it is "committed to ensuring the tanker that is selected can produce the best product for the Air Force, will create the most American jobs and wisely spends taxpayer dollars."

The group includes Gregoire and Governors Mark Parkinson of Kansas, Jodi Rell of Connecticut, Chet Culver of Iowa, John Baldacci of Maine, Jay Nixon of Missouri, Ted Kulongoski of Oregon and Gary Herbert of Utah.

"Awarding the refueling tanker contract to Boeing will provide work for 40,000 to 50,000 people all across the country at a time when the national economy is still struggling mightily," Gregoire said. "Boeing has a long history of making great tankers and is ready to start with these today. Boeing has the facilities, the technical expertise and the experienced work force to get the job done."

Jones not 'social' mayor?

View full size(Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)Mobile mayor Sam Jones.Some mayors make big use of "social media," such as Facebook and Twitter.

An outfit called Sampoint ranked the mayors of the nation's 100 largest cities according to how "socially active" they are. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom led the pack, with 1,412,366 fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter. Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker was next with 1,101,571 fans and followers.

The only Alabama city large enough to make the list was Birmingham.

City Council President Roderick Royal, who was acting mayor during the time period that Samepoint studied, had 20 Facebook fans but no Twitter account. That was good for 57th most, since 40 mayors among the country's biggest cities had no presence on Facebook or Twitter.

Mobile, which was too small to be included in the study, would have registered a goose egg on that account, as well. Jones has no Facebook page or Twitter account.

City spokeswoman Barbara Drummond said city officials have looked into the idea. But they concluded Jones would not have time to keep it up.

"That's a lot of maintenance," she said.

The city itself has 3,802 fans on Facebook, and 1,546 followers on Twitter.

And a group called Sam Jones for President has 52 members on Facebook.

Formally released Thursday, the statement says that the United States urgently needs to return to "our founding principles." Those include individual liberty, limited government, free enterprise and opposition to tyranny in the world.

The lead signer was Edwin Meese, who served as U.S. attorney general under President Ronald Reagan.

"The Political Skinny" is an inside look at Alabama politics prepared by the staff of the Press-Register. For more information, e-mail Jim Van Anglen or call 251-219-5608.

Michel Nicrosi, Democratic candidate for Alabama attorney general, will be the guest speaker at the March 9 meeting of the South Baldwin Democrats, according to a news release.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the Southside Baptist Church in Foley, located at the corner of W. Michigan (Baldwin County 26) and S. Oak; call 251-269-4643 for directions.

The public is invited to attend this event, as well as future meetings of the South Baldwin Democrats, the release states. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Southside Baptist Church.

(Today's column includes contributions from the following staff members: Tina Covington, Brendan Kirby, Sean Reilly and George Talbot.)